No consensus yet between Mufti and Centre on Governor

Appointing a Governor for Jammu and Kashmir is proving to be a sticky issue for the Government with the Centre and the state government fail...

Appointing a Governor for Jammu and Kashmir is proving to be a sticky issue for the Government with the Centre and the state government failing to agree on a consensus candidate.

With Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed averse to having either a retired Army officer or an intelligence official in the seat, the choices for the Centre have become limited. Sayeed is believed to have requested Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to keep that in mind while taking the final decision.

‘‘He told the Deputy PM that having a retired intelligence officer or an army official as governor was not in consonance with his healing touch policy and would send the wrong signal to the people, whose confidence he was trying to win. Sayeed prefers having a politician or a bureaucrat as governor,’’ disclosed sources in the Government.

Story continues below this ad

Sayeed reportedly suggested Delhi Lt Governor Vijay Kapoor’s name. They share a good rapport — when Sayeed was Union home minister, Kapoor was the J-K chief Lt Governor Vijay Kapoor’s name. They share a good rapport — when Sayeed was Union home minister, Kapoor was the J-K chief secretary. ‘‘The Centre is open to the idea of sending Kapoor as Governor but the problem is they don’t want to relieve him before the Delhi elections scheduled in November,’’ sources added.

Moreover, the Congress — Sayeed’s ally in J-K — does not seem to agree with his choice of Kapoor, who they perceive is ‘‘more favourably disposed to the BJP’’ in Delhi.

The names which are so far doing the rounds for governorship, according to sources, are those of former intelligence officials Arvind Dave and Shyamal Datta (currently Nagaland Governor) and former Army officials Lt General J.F.R. Jacob and General S. Padmanabhan — none of them agreeable to Sayeed.

‘Violence in Nepal is heart-rending’: PM Modi expresses concern as KP Sharma Oli resigns

India21 min ago

Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed worry about the turmoil in Nepal and stressed the need for peace and stability. The Nepal Army and security officials called for dialogue to restore order amidst growing protests and the resignation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. The Indian government issued a safety advisory for Indian citizens, advising against travel until the situation improves.

View all shorts

Live Blog